Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty. On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous - and alluring - magic. The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who - and what - matters most.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Angie lives in my neck of the woods and I got to see her in person at a local book signing (*insert squee*)! She was super nice and my kids were just ecstatic to meet "a real life author."

Camille would rather be on her dads ship sailing, than attending parties of society in San Francisco. She lived for the open seas, but this would be her last voyage on the Christina. Upon her return she would marry Randall, but she was drawn to Oscar. Her last voyage ends in tragedy when the ship sinks and her father meets a watery death. Learning her father's secret, Camille starts on an enchanted adventure with Oscar to learn the truth of her family, with a chance to bring her father back from the dead. The love between Camille and Oscar blooms, but obstacles get in their way as they go into the Australian wilderness. It is a dangerous place and before long Camille will have to make a choice between the two people she loves.

Angie's writing is beautiful and magical. I will be reading the sequel, THE ETERNAL SEA, as soon as possible because I don't want Camille and Oscar's story to end. This is a great summer read!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she’s written on online botany programs along with food science technician jobs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, playing piano, and working with origami.

Welcome Maria and thank you for chatting with us today. This is a fantastic topic, so sit back and enjoy this post!

How to work as an online freelance writer

If the thought of spending your days at home working as an online writer sounds like a dream come true, then believe it or not your dream can easily become a reality if you have the proper skills and requirements.

If you completed a university or college degree, whether it be in Journalism or English, you will find it incredibly easy to get hired to work as a freelance writer. If you don’t have a degree you may find yourself running an uphill battle, however this doesn’t necessarily mean that an online writing job is out of reach.

In order to prove that you have the proper talents and skills required to work as a freelance writer, it may be a good idea to look for different publications or even blogs that will be interested in publishing your writing. This way when you apply for the job you can send the employer examples of your writing. (Be sure to include the links or clippings of your articles in your resume as well).

Suite101 is one site that is known for publishing freelance articles; however, if you’re hoping to get a job in a specific writing field, (such as science, for example), it may be a good idea to scope out different science publications and blogs so you can focus on one specific topic.

Another important necessity when it comes to working as an online freelance writer is to have an Internet connection as well as a laptop or computer. Some employers may ask you to conduct interviews with professionals over the phone, however this is very rare.

Where to find jobs online

One of the best ways to find online writing jobs is to look on sites like Craigslist, LinkedIn, or even international job posting sites like GumTree. The important factor to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t limit yourself by just searching for jobs in the city that you live in. The key to finding online writing jobs is to look in other cities, or even other states and countries, but make sure that the job posting states that you will be required to work online.

Once you apply for a writing job and get a response that states the employer is interested in hiring you for the job, you may be required to write a test or practice assignment so your (hopefully) future employer knows your writing style and talents.

Once you get hired, be prepared to spend a lot of time on the Internet, so be sure that your laptop is in tip top shape so you can work on your writing every day. Also, because you will have to submit your articles online, make sure you keep all of your assignments in a folder that is easily organized, or even use your e-mail account to organize all of your assignments and submissions.

Payment

Sometimes employers will pay you a flat fee per article, while others may pay you on a contract basis so you will be required to complete a certain number of articles in a specific time frame.

Most employers will pay you via Paypal, so you may be required to sign up for a Paypal account and that way your employer can e-mail you the payments. Some employers may even put you on their company payroll or even send you cheques via snail mail, however, this is not as common.

Friday, June 3, 2011

My great blogger buddy, Natasha, from Writes by Moonlight tagged me in a meme. After I answer my questions I get to tag three bloggers. So, here I go. Don't get bored okay.

If you could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?
It would have to be when I volunteered working at Roger Williams Zoo on the weekends. I loved working with exotic animals, but the zookeepers I worked with were what made it memorable! I don't think I ever laughed so hard in my life. There were many almost pee in my pants moments than I can remember. Hello Rodney Dangerfield.

If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
Ah, the dreaded question of all time. Sure I would change some little things. Like, every time I saw a penny, I should have picked it up and saved it. I could go on vacation or something. Honestly, nothing. Absolutley nada. The past is what made my present. I take each day as it comes--the good, the bad, and the ugly.

What movie/tv character do you most resemble in personality?
Ha ha, my hubby will attest that I'm the worst at remembering actors/actresses from movies. He is the movie buff so I'm going to have to resort to desperation and ask him.
Me:"Honey, what movie/tv character do I most resemble...and be nice."
Hubby: "I guess the real housewives reality show is out then."
Me: "I said be nice!"
Me: "Oh forget it."
Hubby: "I know, Frankie from The Middle."
Me: Rolls on floor laughing, "Omigod, you're right!"

If you could push one person off a cliff and get away with it, who would it be?
Woa, this could be used against me in a court of law. I have to zip my lips and stay hush hush. I mean I would never ever want to throw someone off a cliff. What kind of person do you think I am, sheesh.

Name one habit you want to change in yourself.
I wish I could go to sleep at a resonable time. The life of a night owl, sigh.

Describe yourself in one word.
Quirky

Describe the person who named you in this meme in one word.
Creative

Why do you blog? Answer in one sentence.
It's my way to connect with other like minded people and overtake Bloggerville by hostile takeover Bawhahaha!

Maria Rainier will be doing a guest post next week about how to work as an online freelance writer.

Bio: Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she’s written on online botany programs along with food science technician jobs. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, playing piano, and working with origami.